Spool-holding device for textile machines, particularly winding machines



y 5, 1964 s. FURST ETAL 3,131,885

SPOOL-HOLDING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES, PARTICULARLY WINDING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS S TEFA V F R T WILHEL I) MAASs/s v May 5, 1964' 5. FURST ETAL 3,

SPOOL-HOLDING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES, PARTICULARLY WINDING MACHINES WIIL HELM mAAssE/v May 5, 1964 s. FURST ETAL 3,

SPOOL-HOLDING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES, PARTICULARLY WINDING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVE/VIOES 5 TEFA N F U R5 T W/LHELM m asss/v United States Patent 3,131,885 SPOOL-HOLDING D E V I C E FOR TEXTILE MACHiNE-S, PARTICULARLY W I N D I N G MACHINES Stefan Fiirst, lVlonchen-Gladbach, and Wilhelm Maassen, Monchen-Gladhach-Hardt, Germany, assignors to Walter Reiners, Monchen-Gladhach, Germany Filed May 6, 1960, Ser. No. 27,403 Claims priority, application Germany May 9, 1959 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-12951) Our invention relates to a frame structure for rotatably accommodating a body of yarn, particularly a crosswound spool, also called cheese, in a textile fabricating machine, for example in a winding machine that produces such cross-wound spools from yarn taken from a number of cops.

In the known spool frames of this type, the spool core is either shoved onto a spindle or is clamped between two axially aligned and axially spaced clamping devices. The frames that require attachment of the spool core upon a spindle or a so-called spring basket demand the exertion of considerable manual force when exchanging a full spool for an empty spool core, so that fatigue of the attendant personnel is inevitable. Preferable in this respect are spool frames in which the spool core is clamped at both ends between two clamping members. In the known devices of the latter type, at least one of these clamping members, usually designed as a short dowel pin, is axially displaceable and is kept under spring pressure so that the spool core is always subjected to such pressure.

With the large spools nowadays customary the exchange of a full spool for an empty core requires appreciable skill and considerable force because the full spool must be held with one hand while using the other hand for withdrawing the displaceable, spring-biased clamping member. A large spool may weigh up to a few kilograms and hence is often diificult to handle in this manner. However, faulty handling of the spool while pulling it out of the frame may result in deforming and spoiling the spool which must be strictly avoided.

It is an object of our invention to devise a spool-journalling frame particularly for cross-wound yarn packages, which eliminates the above-mentioned deficiencies and thus provides for easier handling while reducing the possibility of inadvertent damage.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the wear imposed upon the journalled ends of the spool core during the Winding operation.

According to a feature of our invention, the spool frame for accommodating a package of yarn, particularly a cross-wound spool, comprises releasable stop means which cooperate with an axially displaceable clamping member to permit arresting the clamping member in the inactive (open) position or preferably also in the active (closed) position. This affords the following spool exchanging operation. At first one hand is used for taking the displaceable clamping member out of the spool core and then arresting it in the open position. Thereafter, the hand previously used is free to do other work, so that the spool, still held with the other hand in its position within the frame, can be seized with both hands and can be taken out of the frame. The insertion of a new spool core can also be effected with both hands and thus requires less time than previously needed. During this manipulation, one hand is used for placing the spool core into the correct position and the other hand for releasing the displaceable clamping member from the previously arrested position, thus causing it to shift into the clamping position. The control of the clamping member may be effected manualy or automatically by suitable, for example mechanical or electrical, devices. The arresting means which retains the clamping member in the active journalling position is preferably so designed that it also takes care of maintaining the clamping member in centered position. For example, the arresting means may constitute a centering spreader-type clamp.

According to another feature of our invention, the control member of the arresting device is attached to the displaceable clamping member in form of a handle or mechanically actuable lever, and is designed to not only arrest the clamping member in two diiferent positions but also to produce an axial motion of the clamping member from one to the other latched end position. This permits operating as follows. For removing full spool, the displaceable clamping member, previously latched in the active journalling position, is released and is then moved axially away from the spool core, whereafter the member is latched in the position of greatest available spacing between the two cooperating clamping members. Consequently, a single actuation of the control member has the effect of producing all operations required for releasing the previously clamped spool. After inserting a new spool body, the control member is moved in the reverse direction with the result of performing all steps required for again clamping and latching the spool core in the operative position. To facilitate inserting a new spool core, the clamping members or dowels of the frame are subjected to a pushing force, preferably spring force. According to another feature such spring force acts through the displaceable clamping member upon the spool core only while this clamping member is released, whereas the effect of the spring force upon the spool core is eliminated by arresting or latching the clamping member. This reduces the wear and tear upon the spool core because after the clamping member is latched in active journalling position, ie during the winding operation proper, the spool core is no longer subjected to axial spring force.

According to another feature of our invention it is advantageous to arrest the displaceable clamping member in its open position by a latch pawl which catches into the clamping member, whereas for arresting the clamping member in spool-holding position, a hollow, slitted body is used whose opening width is adjustable. The hollow body guides the displaceable clamping member when the latter is in its open position but firmly arrests and centers the clamping member when the latter is in closed position. A screw mechainsm is preferably used as a control member for the arresting devices and also for producing the above-mentioned axial motion of the displaceable clamping member. The control member or screw mechanism preferably cooperates with a stop when the clamping member is in the open position. Similarly, when the clamping member is in the closed or clamping position, at least one conical ring or clamping cartridge connected with the screw mechanism cooperates with a counter-stop shaped as a conical ring for centering and/ or arresting the displaceable clamping member.

Preferably used for fully or partially automatic control are hydraulics, pneumatic (pressure or suction air) means, or electrical direct-current or alternating-current means.

It is of advantage to place a stop nose opposite one or both of the two coaxially aligned clamping members for facilitating the insertion of a spool core.

The foregoing and more specific objects, advantages and features of our invention, said features being set forth with particularity in the claims annexed hereto, will be apparent from, and will be described in, the following with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a spool-holder frame according to the invention provided with an axially displace- 3 able member that can be turned away from the spool core. 7 a

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view of a modified spool frame according to the invention in which the clamping member is displaceable linearly in the axial direction.

FIG. 3 is a partly sectional view of still another spool frame according to the invention whose displaceable clamping member is arrestable in two positions by means of a single actuating handle.

FIG. 4 is' a partial and sectional view of still another spool frame according to the invention designed for operation by compressed air; and 7 FIG. 5 is a partial and sectional View of a spool frame according to the invention designed for electrical operation.

The same reference numerals are used in all illustrations for similar components respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, a spool-journalling frame 1, generally of U-shaped configuration, is provided at the ends of its two legs with respective clamping members 2 and 3 which enter intoboth ends of a tubular spool core 4 to permit winding a yarn package 5 upon the core. The frame 1, when in use, is mounted on, or pivotally connected with, the frame structure of a winding or other textile machine, and the yarn wound upon the spool core 4 is being guided back and forth along the core by means of a driven yarn-guiding drum (not illustrated) which peripherally engages the yarn package as the package is being built up on the core 4. In this manner, the yarn package is driven at constant peripheral speed regardles of its increasing diameter, while the yarn being supplied is being reciprocated to produce the cross-wound package or cheese 5. This operation requires that when the core 4 is properly clamped, it must remain readily rotatable about its axis while being securely held in the frame.

The two clamping members 2 and 3 are shaped as respective journalling dowels. The member 2 is rigidly mounted on the frame 1 or, if desired, is held in a fixed position relative to the frame by means of a stop or latch that prevents axial displacement. The clamping member 3 is displaceable and biased by spring pressure. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the member 3 is attached to a leaf spring 6 which can be bent away from the core 4 by means of a handle portion 6a for the purpose of releasing the spool. The leg 7 of the spool frame is formed by an arm whose end constitutes a catch engageable by a latch lever 9. Lever 9 is pivoted to the handle portion 6a and biased by a helical spring 8. When the leaf spring 6 with the clamping member 3 is removed from the core 4 to the illustrated full-line position, thelatch lever 9 engages the catch and thereafter retains the clamping member 3 in the open position to permit removing the full spool. By manually pressing the latch lever against the handle portion 6:1 as represented in FIG. 1, the lever becomes unlatched so that the leaf spring 6 returns the clamping member 3 to the active clamping position 3' illustrated by dot-and-dash lines.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the clamping member '3 is mushroom-shaped and is mounted in a ball bearing inserted in a piston sleeve 11. A spring 12 abuts against a bottom portion 13 of the frame structure 1 and presses the sleeve 11 with the clamping memher 3 toward the spool core 4. Firmly connected with V latch pawl 17 biased by a spring 18. The pawl nose can catch behind a pin 19 mounted on the frame structure 1. When the spring 18 is manually compressed, the latch is released so that the pin 14, under the action of spring of a clamping member 20 whereby the sleeve 11 becomes. firmly lodged in cylinder 10. This permits arresting or latching the clamping member 3 in its active journalling position.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the clamping member 3,

journalled in ball bearings, is seated in a cup 51 integral with a coaxial pin 52. The cup 51 is biased toward the spool core 4 by a helical spring 53 surrounding the pin 52. The pin 52 is guided in a cup-shaped bearing 54 and carries a spring washer 55 on its exterior end. The

bearing 54 glides in a cylindrical portion 10 of the frame structure 1. Fastened to the bearing 54 is a control handle 56 which coacts with a guide pin 57 screwed into the bearing 54. The handle 56 and the pin 57 pass through respective helical slots of the cylinder structure 10, one of these slots being visible at 61. When the handle 56 is being turned manually about the axis of the cylindrical structure 10, thebearing 54 is axially displaced. Aconical ring 58, coaxially adjacent to one side of the cupshaped bearing 54, cooperates with one conical face of a slotted double-conical ring 59 which has several longitudinal slots. The second conical face of ring 59 rests against a conical ring 60 which is in threaded engagement with the bore of the cylinder structure 10. The conical ring 60 can be turned for the purpose of adjusting its axial position in cylinder structure 10. In the illustrated position, the double-conical ring 59 is radially compressed due to the axial forces exerted upon it by the conical rings 58 and 60. The ring 59 widens its bore when it is relieved of the axial force. In the compressed and narrowed condition, the slotted ring59 clamps the cup 51 fast in the adjusted position, whereas the cup 51 ment. The bottom of the cup-shaped bearing 54 is forced against the stop washer 55 and pulls the cup 51 with the clamping member 3 toward the left until the handle 56 is stopped by the end of the guiding slot 61. Now the clamping member 3 is in the inactive end position remote from the spool core 4, and the spool 5 can be taken out of the holding frame. When clamping a new and empty core 4 into the frame structure, the handle 56 is turned back to the illustrated position and the cup 51 is released due to the fact that the cup-shaped bearing 54 is lifted off the stop washer 55. The spring 53 now forces the clamping member 3 toward the right. At the end of the turning motion imparted to the handle 56, the cup-shaped bearing 54 presses toward the right against the conical ring 58 which in turn forces the doubleconical ring 59 to narrow its opening, thus firmly arresting the cup 51 with the clamping member 3.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, both clamping members 2 and 3 are axially displaceable in the frame structure 1 and bothrare provided with a cylindrical sleeve 11 corresponding to the one described above with reference to FIG. 2. Each sleeve 11 in FIG. 4 is firmly joined with a piston 21 displaceable in a cylinder space 22 which is connected through a duct 23 with a source of fluid pressure of the hydraulic or pneumatic type. A control device such as a valve (not shown) supplies or disconnects the fluid pressure to the cylinder spaces for closing and opening the holding device. A stop pin 24 is attached to a piston 25 displaceable in a cylinder 26, a duct '27 being provided to connect the cylinder space 28 with the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure source through the cylinder space 22. When fluid pressure is applied, the piston 21 is moved in opposition to the force of a spring 29 and then entrains the sleeve 11 and the clamping member 3 from the active journalling position to the open position. As shown, both sides of the spool frame can be provided with such a fluid-operated clamping device. However, it is advantageous to provide on one side a stop '39 which fixes the clamping position of one of the clamping members. The fluid medium can be supplied to the duct 23 from a central control device. However, a manually controllable valve (not shown) may also be provided for actuating the clarnping members. A nose 5!] serves to facilitate inserting an empty spool core 4 into the spool frame.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the sleeve 11 carrying the clamping member 3 is provided with a magnet armature 31 on the side facing away from the spool core 4. The armature 31 is located in the magnetic field of a coil 32. A spring 33 returns the armature 31 and thus the sleeve 11 to the clamping position when the electric circuit of the magnet coil is opened. The sleeve 11 further cooperates with an arresting member 34 which forms part of another magnetic armature and cooperates with an electromagnet 35. When the energizing circuit common to the electromagnets 35 and 32 is interrupted, a spring 36 forces the arresting member 34 against the sleeve 11, thus securing the sleeve 11 in the clamping position. As illustrated, the second clamping member 2 for the spool core 4 may be designed in the same manner as described above with reference to the clamping member 3. However, it is then advisable to accurately fix the clamping position of one of the two clamping members 2, 3. For this purpose, the sleeve 11 of the second clamping member 2 has a conical front face cooperating with a hollow conical portion 37 firmly secured to, or integral with, the frame structure 1. The front face of sleeve 11 is biased toward the hollow conical portion 37 by a spring 38. The sleeve 11 of clamping member 2 is connected with an armature 3 movable in the field of a magnet coil 40. Both sides of the spool frame are electrically controlled from a single current source 41 with the aid of a control switch 42.

A spool-iournalling frame device according to the invention greatly facilitates the insertion and exchange of the spools or spool cores. For example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the attendant person need use only one hand for releasing the clamping condition. The released clamping member then remains latched in the open position so that the completed spool can easily be removed with both hands, thus more reliably preventing damage to the yarn package than in the known devices. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, the release is preferably effected by automatic means, although manually operable switches or valves are likewise applicable. Due to the fact that the clamping members are securely arrested when in the active position, a reliable journalling of the spool core is secured. The clamping members, although subjected to spring pressure, are firmly arrested and hence cannot move in their seats during winding operation, thus prevening any vibratory motion that may impose excessive wear or damage upon these seats.

We claim:

1. A yarn-spool journalling frame for yarn-winding and other textile machines, comprising a frame structure, two coaxially aligned and mutually spaced clamping members mounted on said frame structure and having respective dowel portions facing each other for journalling engagement with a spool core, at least one of said clamping members being axially displaceable a predetermined distance relative to said frame structure between a core-clamping and a core-releasing position, said predetermined distance being short in relation to the axial length of said spool core so that axial displacement of said one clamping member into said core releasing position releases said spool core from said clamping members to drop said spool core out of said frame, spring means biasing said displaceable member toward said other member, a first releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable clamping member in said releasing position, and a second releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable clamping member in said coreclamping position, said second arresting device having centering means in centering engagement with said latter member when said latter member is arrested in said coreclamping position.

2. A yam-spool journalling frame for yarn-winding and other textile machines, comprising a frame structure provided with two legs in fixed relation relative to each other, two coaxially aligned and mutually spaced clamping members mounted on the respective legs of said frame structure and having respective dowel portions facing each other for journalling engagement with a spool core at a predetermined distance from each other, at least one of said clamping members being axially displaceable relative to said frame structure between a core-clamping and a core-releasing position, said dowel portions being relatively short in relation to said predetermined distance so that displacement of said one clamping member into said core-releasing position causes said spool to drop down from between said dowel portions and out of said frame, spring means biasing said displaceable member toward said other member, arresting means engageable with said displaceable member for securing it in said two positions respectively, a control device connected with said displaceable member and movable between two control positions for causing said arresting means to arrest said displaceable member in one and the other member positions depending upon the control position occupied by said control device, and means forming part of said control device for imparting axial motion to said displaceable member due to motion of said control device between said two control positions.

3. A yarn-spool journalling frame for yarn-winding and other textile machines, comprising a frame structure provided with two legs non-displaceable angularly with respect to each other, two coaxially aligned and mutually spaced clamping members mounted on the respective legs of said frame structure and having respective dowel portions facing each other for journalling engagement with a spool core, at least one of said dowel portions being axially displaceable relative to said frame structure between a core-clamping position and a core-releasing position, said dowel portions each being short in relation to the axial length of said spool core so that outward axial motion of said one dowel portion to said corereleasing position releases said spool core from said clamping members to drop said spool core out of said frame, spring means biasing said displaceable dowel portion toward said other dowel portion, and a releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable dowel portion in said releasing position.

4. Device according to claim 3, said dowel portions each being provided with bearing means for mounting same in the respective arms of said frame structure, whereby when said spool core is clamped between said dowel portions it can freely rotate on said bearing means Within said frame structure.

5. A yarn-spool journalling frame according to claim 1, comprising a second releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable clamping member in said coreclamping position, whereby said spring means are made inactive relative to the spool core when said displaceable clamping member is arrested by said second arresting device.

6. In a yarn-spool journalling frame according to claim 1, said first arresting device comprising a latch pawl engageable with said displaceable member when the latter is in said core-releasing position.

7. In a yam-spool journalling frame according to claim 1, said second arresting device comprising a slitted hollow cylindrical body of variable width, and control means engageable with said body for widening and narrowing its width, said body forming a guide for said displaceable clamping member when widened and forming when narrowed a centering clamp for arresting and centering said displaceable member.

8. In a yarn-spool journalling frame according to claim 1, said frame structure comprising a cylindrical seat structure in which said displaceable clamping member is coaxially movable, and said control device comprising a screw mechanism between said seat structure and said displaceable member, said mechanism having a part in screw engagement with said seat structure and rotatable about the'axis of said displaceable member for moving it axially when said part is being rotated.

,9. A yarn-coil journalling frame according to claim 2,, comprising a fluid-operated actuator having an actuator piston connected with said control device for operatingthe latter.

10. A yarn-coil journalling frame according to claim 2, comprising an electric control circuit having an electromagnetic .drive connected with said control device for operating the latter. 7

11. In a yam-spool journalling frame according to claim 1, said frame structure having a U-shape and provided with two legs angularly non-displaceable, relative to each other, said two clamping members being located at the ends of the respective U-legs, and two stopstructures projecting from said respective legs inwardly in the vicinity of said dowel portions at the side away from the U- leg ends, .said two stop structures being spaced from each other a distance smaller than the axial length of the yarn package'to be wound, whereby said stop structures facilitate insertion of a spool core between said two clamping members.

12. A yarn-spool journalling frame for yam-winding and other textile machines, comprising a frame structure,

two coaxially aligned and mutually spaced clamping members mounted on said frame structure and having respective dowel portions facing each other for journalling engagement with a spool core, at least one of said clamping members being axially displaceable a predetermined distance relative to said frame structure between a core-clamping and a core-releasing position, said predetermined distance being short in relation, to the axial length of said spool core so that axial displacement of said one clamping member into said core releasing position releases said spool core from said clamping members to drop said spool core out of said frame, spring means biasing said displaceable member toward said other member, a first releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable clamping member in said releasing position, and a second releasable arresting device for securing said displaceable clamping member in said core-clamping position, said second arresting device having centering means in centering engagement with said latter member when said latter member is arrested in said said two rings having respective conical faces engageable with each other for arresting and centering said displaceable member when said latter member is moved by said mechanism to the core-clamping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,631 Rodda Mar. 7, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS a 52,542 France Apr. 17, 1945 

2. A YARN-SPOOL JOURNALLING FRAME FOR YARN-WINDING AND OTHER TEXTILE MACHINES, COMPRISING A FRAME STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH TWO LEGS IN FIXED RELATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, TWO COAXIALLY ALIGNED AND MUTUALLY SPACED CLAMPING MEMBERS MOUNTED ON THE RESPECTIVE LEGS OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE AND HAVING RESPECTIVE DOWEL PORTIONS FACING EACH OTHER FOR JOURNALLING ENGAGEMENT WITH A SPOOL CORE AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS BEING AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME STRUCTURE BETWEEN A CORE-CLAMPING AND A CORE-RELEASING POSITION, SAID DOWEL PORTIONS BEING RELATIVELY SHORT IN RELATION TO SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE SO THAT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ONE CLAMPING MEMBER INTO SAID CORE-RELEASING POSITION CAUSES SAID SPOOL TO DROP DOWN FROM BETWEEN SAID DOWEL PORTIONS AND OUT OF SAID FRAME, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID DISPLACEABLE MEMBER TOWARD SAID OTHER MEMBER, ARRESTING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DISPLACEABLE MEMBER FOR SECURING IT IN SAID TWO POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, A CONTROL DEVICE CONNECTED WITH SAID DISPLACEABLE MEMBER AND MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO CONTROL POSITIONS FOR CAUSING SAID ARRESTING MEANS TO ARREST SAID DISPLACEABLE MEMBER IN ONE AND THE OTHER MEMBER POSITIONS DEPENDING UPON THE CONTROL POSITION OCCUPIED BY SAID CONTROL DEVICE, AND MEANS FORMING PART OF SAID CONTROL DEVICE FOR IMPARTING AXIAL MOTION TO SAID DISPLACEABLE MEMBER DUE TO MOTION OF SAID CONTROL DEVICE BETWEEN SAID TWO CONTROL POSITIONS. 